Protect Me, Alpha King
76. You Love Him?

Pulling myself together, I stared at Alpha Erik and calmed my racing heart. I should never have feltlike this whenever I saw him. Our stories were already closed. Our bond was severed

I should be calm. And not feeling like this—my heart beating loudly.

Reprimanding myself, I looked at him, making my expression blank.

“Let go of my wrist,” I ordered. “I am no longer your slave who you will grab whenever and whateveryou want. The alpha king is only inside. I don’t want him hearing and looking like this.”

As if burning and realizing what he did, he let go of my wrist. He scratched his neck as if he washumiliated.

“I'm sorry.”

My mouth gaped at him. Alpha Erik? Muttering his apologies? Was he the person I was facing rightnow? Or was it his twin?

Refusing to be surprised anymore, I folded my hands in front of my chest. "What do you want,Alpha Erik?" I asked

"River. Can we talk?"

"That's not how you should talk to your future queen, Alpha Erik. You should address me as your—"His eyes softened, which made me stop. This was not the usual Alpha Erik who shared the samebrutality as his father. Something had changed in him. But what?

His physical appearance?

Wait. He became skinnier than before. Dark circles were around his eyes as if he was not sleepingwell these past few days.

Even if he did change, you must not be fooled. Alpha Wade may be using him.

"Fine. What will we talk about?"

Was he asking for closure? It was no longer necessary.

His eyes were suddenly fixated on my neck. He was checking out the mark, which he could see well—a silent proof that I was mated. If he did not reject me, what would my life be right now?Touching my mark, I said, “Well, if you don't want to talk, I have something to do.”

His eyes went back to me. "I'm sorry. It's just that you changed. A lot.”

I did not notice anything peculiar on my body except my wolf, who would only talk when shewanted to and who would only ask me to kiss the alpha king.

“I hear that, River.

“I did not hear you,’ I answered back.

Focusing my attention on Alpha Erik, I muttered, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

He smiled at me, which did not reach his eyes. His eyes reminded me of Delta Isagani and hisunrequited love for Lady Juliana.

“Let's talk somewhere private. Please?"

I exhaled. "Led the way, Alpha Erik."

I said I would take fresh air, so mind as well talk to him.

He turned his back to me, and I followed him silently. Nothing changed this place. It was the sameplace that brought me nothing but negative experiences

Along the way, I saw a fresh set of new faces. Some were younger than five years old. Their tinyarms hugged the bucket of water as they went inside the kitchen.

I clenched my fist as I imagined the hardships they would encounter at the hands of Alpha Wade. Ifonly I could adopt them, I will. However, I was nothing but a slave. I did not have the power nor theresources for that one.

Their curious eyes and their scared body language were enough to make me fall silent as we wentoutside the packhouse.

Alpha Erik led me to the courtyard, which I rarely went to back then. I had a lot of workloads while Iwas staying here, forgetting to relax a bit. The place brought the serenity which I was dying to haveright now.

A fountain was placed in the center with a wolf statue in the middle. In its mouth, water came outfrom it.

I leaned on the fountain and waited for Alpha Erik.

"How have you been?" he started.

I stared at him with boredom.

"Enough of that, Alpha Erik. If you are only asking me about that, let's end this conversation."

His eyes widened. "No. No."

"Did you bring me here to say our pleasantries? Say what you want to say, and let's be done with it.I never wanted to associate myself with someone like you. Someone who looked at a person's statusand rejected her just like that. You make me sick," I spat.

The pain because of the rejection resurfaced. Even my wolf felt the pain and was howling inside."Forgive me for what I have done," he said, his hands both on his sides. "That time, I was scared ofwhat father might do knowing I have a slave as my mate.”

"Don't use your father as your alibi. Just admit you don't have the balls to fight what you want.”The question is, did he want you?

He did not, I replied in my mind.

He smiled sadly and stared at the sky.

Some servants would pass by the courtyard, bringing something for tomorrow's event, and theywould give their curtsey bow, paying their respect to me, which I returned with a smile.

"Maybe I don't have the balls, just like what you said. And now...Father wanted me to take anotherwoman as my mate.”

"Don't you think he will not replace out that it was I your mate whom you rejected?”

"The secret was only between the two of us. No one knows so far, River."

I scoffed. "Good. Bring that secret back to your grave, Alpha Erik. Imagine your humiliation whenour packmates would know you were once paired with someone. A slave like me. They wouldridicule you and talk behind your back. If you don't want that to happen then—"

"I realized something, River," he said, cutting off my words.

He was the same rude man I met and grew up with.

"What? Do I look like I am willing to listen to your sentiments after your rejection? Alpha Erik. Youseem to forget that my fated mate is now the alpha king. I don't want him to be angry when he seesthe two of us talking as if we are catching up with the past.”

He went silent.

Served him right.

After a couple of seconds, he opened his mouth. "The alpha king is amazing after taking a slave ashis mate without minding anyone's opinion. I thought he was only joking during the MatingCeremony, but I was proven wrong when I saw your mark."

Feeling proud, I lifted my chin slightly. “The alpha king never discriminated against anyone. He is therightful king to the kingdom of Vernice."

“You love him?”

I stiffened and was lost for words. That was out of the blue.